CityFHEPS in New York City

About this program

CityFHEPS — short for "City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement" — is New York City''s flagship rental assistance program for homeless residents and families at imminent risk of homelessness. Administered by the Human Resources Administration (HRA), CityFHEPS pays the difference between 30% of household income and the unit''s monthly rent, up to a payment standard. The program is funded entirely by NYC (not federal), so it works only in NYC. In 2024, CityFHEPS payment standards were raised to match federal Section 8 levels, making it competitive with Section 8 for housing affordability.

How it works

CityFHEPS subsidizes rent in private-market apartments for eligible NYC residents. Like Section 8, the tenant pays roughly 30% of household income; HRA pays the rest directly to the landlord, up to the program''s payment standard.

The program has two main tracks:

CityFHEPS Rental Assistance (the main program): For households currently in DHS shelter or DV shelter who need permanent housing. Case managers in the shelter system help with the application and apartment search.

CityFHEPS Prevention: For households at imminent risk of homelessness (eviction proceedings, eviction notice, family breakup, domestic violence). Applications go through HRA Homebase offices in each borough, which work to keep families housed and out of shelter.

Once you have CityFHEPS, you find a NYC apartment within the payment standard, the unit passes inspection, and you sign a lease with HRA paying the subsidy. The program has initial terms (typically 5 years) with required renewals — in practice, renewals are routine for households that continue to qualify.

Who qualifies

CityFHEPS eligibility is based on housing crisis status and income:

Housing situation: You must be either:

• Currently in a DHS (Department of Homeless Services) shelter, or
• At imminent risk of homelessness — specifically: in eviction proceedings, have received an eviction notice, are leaving DV shelter, or are at risk of losing housing for specific other reasons

Income: Your household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Income limits are higher than Section 8''s 50% AMI cutoff, meaning more households qualify.

Citizenship/immigration: At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. The program does NOT require all household members to have eligible status.

NYC residency: Required. CityFHEPS only operates in NYC.

No competing housing assistance: You cannot use CityFHEPS on a unit also receiving federal Section 8 subsidy (would be double-subsidy).

How to apply

Application paths depend on your current housing situation:

If you''re in DHS shelter: Your case manager handles the application. They''ll help you complete forms, gather documentation, and access the CityFHEPS process. Don''t leave the shelter system before your CityFHEPS is approved — leaving may end your eligibility for the program.

If you''re facing eviction or imminent homelessness: Go to your borough''s HRA Homebase office. Homebase staff will assess your eligibility for CityFHEPS Prevention and help you apply. Homebase locations are listed at nyc.gov/site/hra/help/homebase.page.

If you''re in DV shelter: Your shelter case manager will work with you on CityFHEPS, often through a streamlined DV-specific process.

Required documents: Photo ID, proof of homelessness or eviction status, household composition documentation, income verification, immigration status documents for non-citizen household members, and any prior housing assistance documentation.

The CityFHEPS application is reviewed faster than Section 8 — many families move from approval to housed within weeks. After approval, HRA issues a shopping letter similar to Section 8''s, with a maximum gross rent and search timeline.

For program information and details: nyc.gov/site/hra/help/cityfheps.page

CityFHEPS moves faster than Section 8 — typically: **From shelter**: weeks to a few months from CityFHEPS approval to placed in housing **Prevention (eviction risk)**: weeks for application processing; immediate emergency assistance available for some cases There''s no formal "waitlist" for CityFHEPS the way there is for Section 8. If you qualify, you can apply and receive a voucher (provided funding is available). However, finding an apartment that accepts the voucher and passes inspection takes time — typically 1-3 months once you have the voucher. The combined timeline from initial application to moved into permanent housing is usually 2-6 months from start to finish, much faster than Section 8 (which can take years just to be issued a voucher).

"CityFHEPS is just for homeless people." Mostly true, but the definition of "homeless" is broader than you might think. It includes families in shelter, families at imminent risk of eviction, families fleeing domestic violence, and families experiencing other housing crises. The CityFHEPS Prevention track specifically helps families avoid entering shelter.

"CityFHEPS has small payment standards." Not anymore. In 2024, NYC legislation raised CityFHEPS payment standards to match federal Section 8 levels. The program is now competitive with Section 8 for unit affordability.

"CityFHEPS expires after 5 years." Technically, the initial term is 5 years. In practice, HRA has routinely renewed CityFHEPS for households that continue to qualify (low income, NYC residency). The program has not been used to "kick out" families after 5 years.

"You have to be NYC-born to get CityFHEPS." No. CityFHEPS requires NYC residency, not NYC birth. Newly arrived residents can qualify if they meet the other requirements (homeless or at risk, low income, immigration status).

"CityFHEPS is portable to other cities." No. Unlike Section 8, CityFHEPS only works in NYC. If you move out of state, you''ll need to apply for housing assistance there separately.

"CityFHEPS landlord acceptance is rare." Less rare than it used to be. The 2024 payment standard increase brought more landlords into the program. CityFHEPS acceptance is particularly strong in central Brooklyn, the Bronx, and southeast Queens.

DHS

NYC Department of Homeless Services — operates the city''s shelter system

HRA

Human Resources Administration — NYC agency that administers CityFHEPS, FHEPS, HASA, and other rental assistance programs

Homebase

HRA''s homelessness prevention program; borough-based offices help families avoid shelter

Shelter Allowance

Public Assistance benefit that pays some portion of rent for households on cash assistance

Payment Standard

The maximum gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) that CityFHEPS will approve for a given unit size

Initial Term

The initial 5-year period of a CityFHEPS subsidy, after which renewal is required

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families — a federal program that interacts with NYC public assistance and CityFHEPS

ETO

Eviction Transfer Option — a specific CityFHEPS pathway for families facing immediate eviction

SNAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps); separate from CityFHEPS but related public benefit

Find CityFHEPS housing by location

Browse voucher-friendly apartments in each NYC borough that accept CityFHEPS.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for CityFHEPS if I am not in shelter?

Yes, through HRA Homebase if you''re facing imminent eviction or homelessness. CityFHEPS Prevention helps families avoid entering shelter. To qualify, you typically need to show eviction proceedings, an eviction notice, a court order, or another imminent housing loss. Visit your borough''s Homebase office to start the application.

Does CityFHEPS pay all my rent?

No. You pay roughly 30% of household income toward rent and utilities. CityFHEPS pays the difference, up to the program''s payment standard. If the unit''s total rent is below the payment standard, you may pay less than 30%. If you choose a unit above the payment standard, you can''t use CityFHEPS — HRA won''t approve it.

How long is CityFHEPS available for?

Initial term is 5 years, with renewals required. In practice, renewals have been routine for households that continue to qualify. There is no formal expiration date — as long as you remain low-income and NYC-resident, you can continue receiving CityFHEPS through routine renewals.

Can I switch from CityFHEPS to Section 8?

Yes, if you''re subsequently issued Section 8. The coordination between HRA (CityFHEPS) and NYCHA (Section 8) prevents gaps. Some families use CityFHEPS while waiting for Section 8 to come through, then transition once Section 8 is issued. Section 8 is often preferred for long-term stability because it''s permanent and portable nationally.

What if my CityFHEPS application is denied?

You have the right to a fair hearing through the NY State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Legal Services NYC, Mobilization for Justice, and similar legal aid organizations can help with appeals at no cost. Common denial reasons include income above 200% of poverty, immigration status issues, or failure to provide required documentation.

Can I use CityFHEPS in any NYC apartment?

Yes, in any NYC apartment that meets the program''s requirements: gross rent at or below the payment standard for the unit size, passes housing inspection, and the landlord agrees to participate. CityFHEPS landlord acceptance has grown significantly since the 2024 payment standard increase, particularly in central Brooklyn, the Bronx, and southeast Queens.